Overview

The Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch (OPPTB), formerly the Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology Branch (OPPB), promotes basic, translational, and clinical research to improve the safety and efficacy of therapeutics, primarily pharmaceuticals and to ensure centralization and coordination of research, clinical trials, and drug development activities for obstetric and pediatric populations.

The Branch is responsible for developing and supporting a comprehensive national effort to increase the knowledge base for understanding how to appropriately treat disease during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence using therapeutic approaches including medications that are appropriately tested within their target populations.

Implementation of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) activities at the NICHD is among the major activities for the Branch.